House speaker moving quickly

On Friday, his chamber overwhelmingly passed a ban on Internet cafes, which the House has previously supported but has faltered in the Senate.

But now, given a law enforcement investigation that has led to multiple arrests and the resignation of the lieutenant governor, the gambling ban appears to have a much better chance in the Senate.

Senate president Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said he expects some version of the bill to be sent to the governor “well before” the end of the session in early May.

The House — along party lines — also backed a major change in the state’s retirement system, requiring public workers hired beginning next year to be placed in a 401(k)-type plan rather than the traditional pension program. Weatherford has made the pension overhaul one of his priorities.

Having already sent an election-reform bill to the Senate in the first week of the session, this week’s House action means many of the goals Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, outlined for this year are well underway. Two priorities that have yet to advance in the House include reforms for Florida’s higher-education system and overhauling ethics.

One of the downsides of the week for Weatherford was an odd public clash with Gov. Rick Scott.

Scott criticized the House’s preliminary budget by saying it did not appear to include a $2,500 teacher pay raises — a major priority for the governor. Scott praised the Senate’s budget for setting aside $480 million for pay raises.

However, there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference in the Senate and House education budgets, with both providing more than a $1 billion increase for public schools. Both the House and Senate leaders also favor a pay raise for teachers based on performance, rather than the governor’s across-the-board plan, while leaving the details of the actual increases to contract negotiations in the 67 school districts.

Weatherford downplayed any differences with Scott.

“I think you guys tend to focus more on things where there are areas of disagreement,” Weatherford told reporters on Friday. “But the truth is we agree on a lot. He asked for over $1 billion in education and we are putting in over $1 billion in education.”

Weatherford said the House is “excited” about what the new budget could mean for Florida’s teachers. “We are looking forward to working with the governor on that and many other issues.”

There was a sad note to the House this week with the passing of state Rep. Clay Ford, a Gulf Breeze Republican. The House held a memorial service for him on Thursday.

“The consummate gentleman of the House, Clay Ford was a friend, a mentor and a tender conscience to all those who served with him,” Weatherford said.

WINNER OF THE WEEK: The Everglades. Lawmakers struck a deal on a long-term financing plan for the restoration of the Everglades that surprisingly pleased both the agriculture industry and environmental lobbyists. Rookie Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, was credited with helping to broker the deal.

LOSER OF THE WEEK: Unions. Despite opposition from the Democrats, the House backed Speaker Will Weatherford’s plan to end a traditional pension plan for public workers hired after this year. New employees, ranging from state workers to school employees, would be placed in a 401(k)-type plan. The Senate is advancing a bill that would keep the pension plan but provide more incentives for workers to join the 401(k)-type program.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I wish we could pass a law against crazy and a lot of bad things wouldn’t happen in this world,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, on the difficulty of crafting legislation to prevent mass shootings.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lloyd Dunkelberger is the Htpolitics.com Capital Bureau Chief.
He can be reached by email or call 850 556-3542.
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Last modified: March 26, 2013
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